Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-26
SENATOR'S ELECTIONS.
THE DANGER SIGNAL WAVED BY SENATOR
VAN WICK.
Strong Support OF His Resolution Providing FOR
the Election Of 0. s. Senators By the People
No Extension OF the Senate Session
Washington News.

tenn. OF the Senate was auopteu "ithou'
division. The preliminary motion to
amend by substituting the name of Sena-
tor Harris was rejected by a strict party
vote.
The Senate then took up the resolution
offered by Mr.. Van .Wyck, yesterday, as
follows
"ResolUed, As the judgment of the Sen
ate, that an amendment to the constitu-
ton providing for the election, directly by
the voters, of United States Senators
should be submitted to the people for
their action"
Mr.. VAN wYCK's SPEECH.
Mr.. Van Wyck spoke as follows:
Early in the session l introduced and
had referred to the proper committee a
bill providing an amendment to the Con-
stitution that United States Senators
should be elected by the people As want
OF time or inclination on the part of the
the committee prevented action, | have
asked the adoption of the resolution.
As some OF the errors and mistakes Of
the trainers of the Constitution have been
corrected, so the people OF the country are
demanding that this must be. And while
the equality of the States is preserved by
an equal number from each, the State will
be more fifty represented and the rights of
the people recognized by amending the
Constitution so they shall be- elected di-
rectly by them.
Gouverneur Morris in 17S7 said: "The
Senate was needed to keep down the tur-
bulence of democracy" 1t has succeeded
at times in keeping down the turbulence
of the people in their demands for redress
OF grievances and exemption from unjust
and oppressive taxation. Now the people
are demanding, and experience has demon
strated that it is not only safe, but grow
ing every year more necessary they should
directly elect those who represent the
State, as the State is emphatically the
people. The control Of legislatures by
Establishments, promises OF money, has
been reduced to a system to that extent
that one Ofthe most successful of manipu-
latOrs of that machinery has boldly pro-
claimed that it is much easier and cheaper
to purchase venal Legislators than electors
at the polls.
THE NECESSITY FOR THIS CHANGE
has been made strikingly manifest within
the last month in the States of New jersey,
Indiana and Nebraska. In the first two
every scheme and subteriuge has been
used to obtain an advantage by stealth and
fraud that might secure victory, regard
less OF what the people may desire. And
in the latter direct expression Of the pco-
pie on the question OF preference, rs al
lowed by the constitution and laws of that
State, and then superadded the still more
emphatic declaration of the voters by max
inc the choice Of United States Senator
test in election Of members Of the LegiSla
turcs and when the people, as voters, had
signitied their choice by electing 4 malOri-
ty OF the Legislature pledged to that choice
True they were from both political parties,
but a maiority-and fully instructed. That
was the Judgment of the people OF great
State.
Then the railroad corporations interpOse
to reverse that judgement and beat the
people, By their influence and wealth, by
their mysterious agencies, so potent, actu-
ally controlled Representatives against
open and declared instructions on the pre-
text too thin to cover the brand corpora
tiOns burned into their chattels, of great
party loyalty, that in Republican State
Republican United States Senacor should
not be elected except by Republican votes.
Thus when the votes of those instructed
and pledged would secure what the people
people desired, enough purchased traitors
withhold their votes to defeat what they
knew the people had demanded.
A CRISIS Is APPROACHING
when the people, the toilers, without the
form of party, will be arrayed at the ballot
box against their oppressOrs. The infic-
tion of injustice and wrong are OF greater
injury to the republic than giant powder or
dynamite. When capital, in defiance of
the constitution and laws, can demand
payment of debts in gold coin only; when
the upheaval of labor can he repreSSed by
indictments and fine or imprisonment for a
when throughout the North.
west the virgin soil is being exhausted TO
raise grain, make pork and beet, the
producer receiving barely the cost
of production, and when the
products reach the seabOard so en-
numbered with railroad and other charges
that meat three times a day, our former
boast, is often denied the labOrer: when
the tenant class is yearly increasing; when
three-fourths of all the farms in the Re
public are mortgaged, when the additions
OF wealth are largely to those who count
possessions by thousands and millions, and
labor must return thanks for the privilege
to toll for reward which barely provides
board and clothing.
The Democracy carried slavery and fell,
although in falling 1T did not entirely per
ish. The Republican party has carried
monster corporations equally as unrelent-
ing and exacting, and are reeling, stumb-
ling, falling with the terrible load. And
the humble warner, waving.
THE SIGNAL FLAG or DANGER
is run down and crushed as an enemy in
the path of bloated, unrelenting and uI-
reasoning power. And now, reckless,
nerveleSs leaders tell us that there is a
crisis as they madly beat the waves,
to submerge the last feeble,
frail resting place, and in their insane and
idiotic folly tell about straight reliable
partisans elected in defiance of the express
demands of the people to save v hat is LETT
in the upper branch of Congress.
Year by year the party becomes weaker
aud weaker even here. The desperate
remedy is prescribed that the influence
and wealth and tools of huge corporations
shall be invoked to overthrow the people
and secure a temporary victory, while the
leaders appear as unconcerned as to the
causes of danger and safety as was Nero
when be fiddled at the destruction of Rome.
During this time waning power is depart
ing from the Senate, and in their wild
delirium to save they contribute TO the
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